Ondansetron: perioperative use of a serotonin receptor antagonist for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common side effects after surgery and have numerous patient factors and etiologies. Although self-limiting, PONV is not without risks and complications. In the past numerous antiemetics have been used successfully in the management of PONV; however, these drugs are associated with adverse effects. Ondansetron is a serotonin receptor antagonist that is effective in preventing and treating PONV. It is believed that ondansetron binds at the serotonin receptor both in the vagal afferents of the gastrointestinal tract and in the chemoreceptor trigger zone. The reported side effects from ondansetron are minor compared with those of the more commonly used antiemetics such as droperidol and metoclopramide and include headache, dizziness, musculoskeletal pain, drowsiness and sedation, and shivers.